DISINFO: Biolabs in Ukraine financed by Joe Biden's son
SUMMARY
The investment fund of Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, Seneca Thornton, was involved in the financing of Ukrainian biolabs that, according to Moscow, were part of the Pentagon's bioweapons programme.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about biolabs in Ukraine being part of US biological warfare efforts.
The claim is made in the context of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022.
According to the UN, there are no signs of any biological weapons programme conducted in Ukraine, despite the claims made by Russia.
Russia's allegations about the alleged biological weapons programmes in Ukraine have been also debunked by independent media.
No evidence was provided about Seneca Thornton's involvement in financing Ukrainian biolabs. The firm, however, was in the crosshairs of another scandal: in a 2020 report, Senate Republicans alleged that Seneca Thornton, which was co-founded by Hunter Biden, got USD 3.5 million from the former mayor of Moscow's wife. At the time, Hunter Biden's lawyer said that the former had no interest in Rosemont Seneca Thornton and was not its co-founder. Hunter Biden was, however, the co-founder and CEO of the investment firm Rosemont Seneca Advisors, but it is unclear whether there are any connections between it and Rosemont Seneca Thornton.